Roof structure and method of erection



, J. R. WlLKlE ET AL ROOF STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF ERECTION Sept. 6, 19664 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 26, 1962 i 5 MEMIJ T/IO 2 mwjw VM W. w

Sept. 6, 1966 J. R. WlLKlE ET AL 3,270,470

ROOF STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF ERECTION Filed Nov. 26. 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet2 INVENTORS doll/V R. W/l/f/E fioLlunw Jzasrax BY RIG/N440 J- Jaws JoSept 6, 1966 J. R. WILK'IE ETAL 3,270,470

ROOF STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF ERECTION Filed Nov. 26, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheets INVENTORJ' Jam! 4. W444i Batu/7w JzoJr/m' BY 4 6614 410 6. JOA'AJd/VSept. 6,1966 J. R. WILKIE ET AL 3,270,470

ROOF STRUCTURE AND METHOD 0F ERECTION Filed Nov. 26, 1962 4Sheets-Shee'c 4 INVENTORS Jomv A. Wax/E Jmuzrunr Jzasrdk BY Its/M910 6-Jon/Joy F4 NA 0. Chm/3J1 United States Patent 3,270,470 R06 STRUQTUREAND METHOD OF ERECTION lohn R. Wilkie, 8400 Petersburg Road, VanderburghQounty, ind; Boleslaw Szostak, 203 Green Valley Road, Greensboro, N.C.;Reginald B. Johnson, ISSIStop & Shop Court, ()wensboro, Ky.; and FrankD. Cain, In, 732 State St, Bowling Green, Ky.

Filed Nov. 26, 1962, Ser. No. 240,096 11 Claims. (Cl. 52-82) The presentinvention relates to a roof structure, and more particularly to a newand novel long-span roof structure and the method of erecting same.

As is known, in the building of larger structures used, for example, forathletic or like events, ordinary I-beam and truss arrangements havebeen employed, with a limiting factor in the design of such priorstructures being, in part, the desired ultimate shape of the building orthe roof thereof, viz., oblong, round, or the like, and the necessity ofupright supports which might interfere with the desired and/or optimumuse of the building.

In accordance with the instant invention, the applicants herein haveprovided a new and novel approach in building design, and moreparticularly to the roof structure therefor, where the latter includes asequence of preselected load changes during erection to ultimate finalassembly. At the outset, the instant roof structure is designed for abuilding having a circular-floor plan, or at least one which has acircular roof structure as a dominant feature thereof. As will beapparent, and importantly, the instant invention permits the erection oflong-span building structures evidenced by flexibility of interiordesign because the use of interior support members for the roof is notrequired.

Briefly, the instant invention comprises a roof supporting walltypically defined by a series of outer columns in a circularconfiguration or floor plan, and a centrally disposed cage, which has anupper and alower ring, temporarily mounted on a tower in the area of theaxis, or center, of the aforesaid circular floor plan. A series ofcables extend radially from the lower ring of the center cage to anouter ring disposed on the top surface of the aforesaid peripheralcolumns, where such cables are normally in tension.

Trusses also extend radially between, the aforesaid columns and centercage, where ordinary roofing is supported on such trusses. Noting thatthe outer end of each of the trusses, i.e. that end supported by theouter columns, is pinned to the outer ring, while the inner end of eachof the trusses, i.e. that end supported by the center cage,

is not pinned to the latter, the cables are prestress'ed, placing theouter ring into maximum compression, thereby shortening the diameter ofthe circular layout, but not placing any direct stress on the trusses.Thereafter, the inner end of each of the trusses is respectively pinnedand all other framing is erected.

The temporary tower is then removed, and upon so doing, the outer ringis relieved of compression and goes into tension, where the cables arefurther stressed, and the upper ring of the center cage is incompression, as is the bottom chord of each truss, and the lower ring ofthe center cage is in tension. As load is applied, to each truss, thedirect compressive stress in the bottom chord thereof is relieved bytension due to bending, thereby reducing the over-all compression insuch bottom chord due to the entire roof structure.

Since the outer ring is not connected to the columns and is free toslide thereon, its increase in diameter does not exert any lateral loadon such columns. At this time, with dead-load only on the roofstructure, the outer ring is secured to the columns by means of anchorbolts, for

example, and, thereafter, fixedly secured, as by field welding, tobearing plates disposed on each of the columns. Any additional loadsubsequently applied to the roof structure will be proportionallyassumed by the outer ring, the cables and the peripheral columns, thelatter being in the form of lateral thrust from such additional load.

It will be apparent that the instant invention affords the advantage ofhaving the contractor work under roof, inasmuch as the design wasconceived so that the peripheral outer columns and the spandrels andtrusses can be erected and the entire roof completed, and, thereafter,the balance of the building structure finished under cover.

A principal object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide anew and novel roof structure having a circular design which is arrangedso that the design forces thereof vary during construction, and resultin a light weight finished roof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and novelmethod for erecting a long-span roof structure having a circularconfiguration or floor plan.

A further and more general object of the present invention is to providea new and novel roof structure which affords safe and effective usewithout the necessity of employing permanent interior support posts orcolumns, and, thereby eliminates any interference with the purpose ofthe building for which the roof is designed.

Other objects and a better understanding of the present invention willbecome more apparent from the following description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view, generally in front elevation, showing asingle truss and cable arrangement, and a portion of the center cage,forming the applicants" new and novel roof structure;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the aforesaid center cage ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the new and novel roofstructure forming the instant invention, showing the truss pattern androofing material on one portion thereof and showing another portionprior to roofing;

FIG. 4 is a view in side elevation showing details for securing atypical cable between the outer ring and the lower ring of the centercage, and details of the slidable end of a truss;

- FIG. 5 is another detailed view in side elevation showing thearrangement between the fixed end of a truss and the upper ring of thecenter cage;

FIG. 6 is still another detailed view in side elevation showing thearrangement between the chord of a truss and the lower ring of thecenter cage; and,

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary top plan view showing details of securing thecable to the lower ring of the center cage, generally taken at line 77of FIG. 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of theinvention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated inthe drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. Itwill nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of theinvention is thereby intended, such alterations and furthermodifications in the illustrated device, and such further applicationsof the principles of the invention as illustrated therein beingcontemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to whichthe invention relates.

Referring now to the figures, the applicants new and novel roofstructure is disclosed in connection with a as, generally, an outercolumn 11, a temporary framework 15, a center cage 20, a cable 40, atruss 60, and roofing 80 disposed on the truss 60. A typical seatingarrangement is shown by the phantom lines of such figure and, 'ofcourse, it must be understood that same can be altered as desired,without effecting the important advantages afforded by the instantinvention.

In any event, the outer columns 11, which are disposed in a circularpattern or floor plan, and typically spaced at ten degree intervals,are, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, formed of reinforcedconcrete. It might be noted, for purposes of proportion, that theathletic building described herein has a 300 foot diameter from innerface to inner face of the outer columns 1 1, where the latter each havedimensions approximating 24 by 48 inches. Each of the outer columns 11has a recessed portion 11a in its top surface which is adapted to mounta portion of an outer ring 12, which outer ring 12 is slidable, in aradial direction, prior to final assembly, on

bearing plates 14, to be discussed herebelow. The bearing plates 14 areeach fixedly secured to the recessed portion 11a of the outer columns 11by means of nut and bolt combinations 14a (see FIG. 4).

The aforesaid outer ring 12 is typically a series of straight sectionsof I-beam welded together to define a closed unit. Although notspecifically disclosed in the drawings, but, however, in accordance withusual practice, splice plates, having bolts associated therewith, serveto provide additional connection between the respective sections ofI-beam defining the closed outer ring 12.

In any event, and again referring to FIG. 4, and also to FIG. 2,depending plates 12a extend inwardly from the outer ring 12 proximateeach of the outer columns 11, where such depending plates 12, in pairs,serve to receive a socket 41 at the end of a wire bridge strand 40a and4% which typically define the cable 40. More particularly, each socket41 has a portion extending between the respective depending plate 12a,where cotter pins 12b provide a pivotal connection to the outer ring 12.It might be noted that wire clamps 44 are typically disposed between thewire bridge strands 40a and 40b.

As indicated hereabove, temporary framework 15 is provided to supportthe center cage 20, where the latter includes a lower tension ring 21,where, extending upwardly therefrom, and converging one with respect toanother, a series of support pipes 22 position an upper compression ring25, which, it will be observed, has a smaller diameter than the lowerring 21.

The supporting framework for the upper ring 25 is completed by lateralmembers 24, typically pipes, which are welded to the support pipes 22 inorder to achieve a rigid over-all structure. As in the instance of theouter ring 12, the upper ring 25 is defined by a series of splicedstraight I-beam sections forming a closed ring unit. It will be notedfrom FIGS. 4, 6 and 7 that the aforesaid support pipes 22 each havetheir respective ends positively positioned by plate members 26, whichare secured, by bolts 26a, to the webs defining the center portion ofthe lower and upper rings 21 and 25, respectively, of the center cage20.

With further reference now to FIGS. 4 and 7, pairs of depending parallelplates 21a extend outwardly from a side surface of the lower ring 21 ofthe center cage 20, with every two of such pairs being radially andcorrespondingly disposed with respect to the depending plates 12aproximate the peripheral columns 11 (also see FIG. 3). A closed strandsocket 42, having a standard type of take-up, has a portion thereofextending around a pin 21b passing between each of the parallel plates21a. In other words, by utilizing the standard take-up, each of the wirebridge strands 411a and 40b comprising the cable 40 can be prestressed,as desired, with such prestressing, however, during the erectionprocedure, being in stages so that the outer ring 12 and the lower ring21 of the center cage do not become distorted.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 6, a series of plates 30 having flanges 30aextending therefrom are peripherally disposed on a side surface of theupper ring 25 of the center cage 20, where nut and bolt combination 30btypically position such plates 30. Welded or otherwise secured to thesame side surface of the upper ring 25, in a cut-out portion of theaforesaid plate '30, is an erection seat 31, typically a T-member, whichis adapted to slidably mount an end 60a of the truss 60. The flanges 30aof the plate 30 each have aligned openings therein through which a pin32 is adapted to be received, which pin 32 also extends through anopening in the end 60a of the truss 60. It should be understood thatpinning is effected only after all trusses 60 have been erected, and thecables 40 prestressed.

With reference now to FIGS. 1, 4, 5 and 6, a series of posts 34 extendupwardly from the upper ring 25 of the center cage 20, with the lowerend of each being positioned by the use of bolted plate members 35. Asshould be apparent from the figures, the aforesaid posts 34 generallycorrespond, in number, to the support pipes 22 which extend between thelower ring 21 and the upper ring 25 of the center cage 20. In any event,extending from each of such posts 34 proximate an end thereof, are pairsof flanges 36 having elongated slotted bolt-receiving openings 36atherein. The aforesaid flanges 36 are adapted to receive an end of thetop chord 62 of the truss 60, i.e. the web of the latter is receivedbetween the pair of flanges, with the elongated slotted openings 36providing the necessary adjustment for bolting upon erection.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, another post 70 extends upwardly fromthe outer ring 12 at each of the peripheral columns 11, the bottom endsof each being positively retained in position by bolted plate members71. The top end of each post 70 receives, by means of bolts (not shown),spaced-apart inverted angle members 72 which define a slot on eitherside of the post 70 for receiving the stem of a T-like member 73, one ofwhich extends between each of the posts 70.

Beneath the angle members 72 is another angle member 74, onto which thetop chord 61 of the truss 60 is received. A member 75 extends outwardlyfrom the top chord 62, where such member 75 has an L-member 76 disposedalong its outer free edge (see FIG. 3), which, together with the trusses60, define a roof deck.

A conventional roof 80 typically including galvanized metal decking 81extends from the L-rnember 76 to the center cage 20 (see FIG. 5). Itmight be noted that a louver 85 and mounting element 86 therefor concealthe inner high end of the roof 80.

In use, the outer columns 11 are first erected, along with whatevertemporary bracing may be required, the positioning thereof being, ofcourse, dependent upon the ultimate design characteristics of thebuilding under construction. The outer ring 12 is then assembled anddisposed on the recessed portion 11a in each of the outer columns 11,where the individual straight sections thereof are spliced, ascustomary, to provide ultimate strength.

As it is important that the outer ring 12 is slidable in a radialdirection, and a lubricant can be employed to insure freedom of suchmovement, it must be understood that the outer ring 12 should not bewelded to the bearing plates 14 at this time, nor should anchor bolts18, each of which has one end imbedded in the outer column 11 and theother end thereof extending through the outer ring 12, be tightened.

Thereafter, the temporary framework 15 is erected, followed by thebuilding and placement of the center cage 20 thereon. It might be notedthat, in the preferred practice of the invention, the center cage 20lends itself to fabrication at the building site.

In any event, each of the cables 40 is connected between the lower ring21 of the center cage 20 and the outer ring 12, through the particularassemblies discussed hereabove. Also, each of the trusses 60 ispositioned, with their respective outside ends being pinned at 12b,while their inside ends rest loosely on the erection seats 31, although,with redesign, the outside ends could be loose, while the inside endsare pinned. All other trusses, the details of which have not beendiscussed herein, but which, for example, are shown in the upper portionof FIG. 3, are now erected, as well as the sway frames between thetrusses, and any other necessary bracing.

It might be noted at this time that the trusses 60 are each fabricatedshort by one-half the amount the outer ring 12 will reduce in diameterbecause of the prestressing of the cables 40. In other words, thepreceding permits the ready pinning of the inside ends of the trusses 60after prestressing the cables 40.

In any event, the cables 40 are then prestressed to the desired force,such prestressing being, as explained hereabove, in equal stages toprevent any distortion of either the lower ring 21 of the center cage 20or the outer ring 12. By such prestressing, the outer ring 12 is placedin maximum compression, shortening the diameter thereof,

but not placing any direct stress on each of the trusses 60. Moreover,at this time, there is no stress on the upper ring 25 of the center cage20, the lower ring 21 is in tension from the prestressing of the cables40, and the outer columns 11 each carry only the vertical component ofthe dead weight of the framing, viz. each has no lateral thrust.

The inner end of each of the trusses 60 is then pinned at 32, with allremaining framing thereafter being completed, and all joint connectionsmade final. Thereafter, the temporary framework 15 is removed, so thatthe center cage 20 is released, and the entire dead load of the roofstructure becomes self-supporting. Following the preceding, which maytypically be accomplished by the lowering of jacks forming part of thetemporary framework 15, the roof deck is placed and completed.

As a result of the above, the outer ring 12 is relieved of compression,changing into tension, and the cables 40 are further stressed. The upperand lower rings 25 and 21 of the center cage 20 are in compression andin tension, respectively, while the bottom chord 61 of each truss 60goes in compression, i.e. the direct compressive stress from the entireroof structure goes into the bottom chord 61 of the trusses 60.

As each truss 60 also carries a proportionate part of the direct roofload, each bottom chord 61, due to bending, will be in tension, thusrelieving the direct compressive stress thereon. Therefore, thecompression through the bottom chord 61 from the entire roof structureis reduced, meaning that the trusses need not be as large as would berequired if all direct compression from one end of the structure toanother were taken thereon.

Since the outer ring 12 is not connected to the bearing plates 14, norto the outer columns 11, and is free to slide thereon, its increase indiameter does not place lateral load on the outer columns 11. With theaforesaid dead-load only on the structure, the anchor bolts 18 aretightened to position the outer ring 12, while the outer ring 12 is alsofield welded to the bearing plates 14. Any live-load now applied to theroof will be taken proportionately by the outer ring 12, the cables 40and the outer columns 11. In other words, with added load, the outerring 12, the cables 40 and the lower ring 21 of the center cage 20 willincrease in tension; the upper ring 25 of the center cage 20 and thebottom chord 61 of each truss 60 will increase in compression; and, dueto the increased diameter of the outer ring 12, and as same is securedto the outer columns 11, such outer columns 11 will assume aproportionate share of the lateral thrust from the added load.

By virtue of the instant invention, the applicants herein have provideda new and novel long-span roof structure characterized by lightness inweight, as well as to the new and novel method of erecting same. Whileoccasionally some representative structural figures are stated in theabove description, it should be understood that the instant roofstructure is, in fact, susceptible to various changes within the spiritof the invention.

For example, different building designs will dictate specific changeswhich may differ from certain of the details described herein, but thebroad concept underlying the invention will remain the same. Thus, thepreceding description should be considered illustrative, and not aslimiting the scope of the following claims:

We claim: 1. The method of erecting a roof structure defined by a ringmember, cables, trusses, and a cage comprising the steps of erectingsupport columns, slidably mounting said ring member on said supportcolumns, erecting scaffolding for supporting said cage centrally of saidsupport columns, securing said cables to a portion of said cage and tosaid ring member, mounting said trusses radially between said ringmember and said cage and pinning one end of each to said ring member,prestressing said cables radially'between said cage and said ring memberin a pattern to maintain equilibrium between said cage and said ringmember, pinning the other end of each of said trusses to said cage,releasing said cage from said scaffolding, and securing said ring memberto said support columns.

2. The method of erecting a roof structure defined by support columns, aring member, cables, trusses, and .a cage comprising the steps oferecting said support columns for receiving said ring member, erectingscaffolding for supporting said cage centrally of said support clumns,securing said cables between a portion of said cage and said ringmember, mounting said trusses radially between said ring member and saidcage and pinning one end thereof to said ring member, prestressing saidcables radially between said cage and said ring member in a pattern tomaintain equilibrium between said cage and said ring member, pinning theother end of each of said trusses to said cage, releasing said cage fromsaid scaffolding, and securing said ring member to said support columns.

3. The method of erecting a roof structure defined by an outerring'rnember, cables, trusses, and a cage having an upper ring and alower ring comprising the steps of erecting support columns, mountingsaid ring member on said support columns, erecting scaffolding forsupporting said cage centrally of said support columns, securing saidcables between said lower ring of said cage and said outer ring member,mounting said trusses radially between said outer ring member and saidupper ring of said cage, pinning one end of each truss to said outerring member, prestressing said cables radially between said cage andsaid outer ring member in a pattern to maintain equilibrium between saidcage and said outer ring member, pinning the other end of each truss tosaid upper ring of said cage, removing said scaffolding from beneathsaid cage, and securing said outer ring member to said support columns.

4. The method of erecting a roof structure defined by a ring member,cables, trusses, and a cage comprising the steps of erecting supportcolumns in a circular pattern, mounting said ring member on said supportcolumns, erecting scaffolding for supporting said cage at the center ofsaid circular pattern, securing said cables to a portion of said cageand to said ring member, mounting said trusses radially between saidring member and on said cage and pinning one end of each to said ringmember prestressing said cables radially between said cage and said ringmember in a pattern to maintain equilibrium between said cage and saidring member, pinning the other end of each of said trusses to said cage,releasing said cage from said scaffolding, and securing said ring memberto said support columns.

5. The method of erecting a roof structure defined by atension-compression ring, cables, trusses having ends, and a cage havingan upper compression ring and a lower tension ring which comprises thesteps of erecting support columns, mounting said tension-compressionring on said support columns, erecting a temporary framework forsupporting said cage centrally of said support columns, securing saidcables between said lower tension ring of said cage and saidtension-compression ring, mounting said trusses radially of said cageand positioning one end of each on said tension-compression ring and theother end on said upper compression ring of said cage and pinning eitherone of said ends at such respective position, placing said cables intension radially between said cage and said tension-compression ring ina pattern to maintain equilibrium between said cage and saidtension-compression ring, pinning the other end of each of said trusses,removing the temporary framework, and securing said tension-compressionring to said support columns.

6. A roof structure comprising a series of support columns disposed in acircular pattern, a ring member slidably positioned on said supportcolumns, a cage centrally disposed with respect to said support columns,and trusses and cables extending radially between said cage and saidcolumns, said trusses being positioned above said cables.

7. A roof structure comprising a series of support columns disposed in acircular pattern, a ring member slidably mounted on said supportcolumns, a cage centrally disposed with respect to said support columns,said cage being defined by a lower ring member and an upper ring member,cables extending radially between said ring member and said supportcolumns and said lower ring member of said cage and secured thereto, andtrusses extending radially between said ring member on said supportcolumns and said upper ring member of said cage.

8. The roof structure of claim 7 where means are provided forprestressing each of said cables.

9. A roof structure comprising a series of support columns disposed in acircular pattern, an outer ring member mounted on said support columnsand slid-able from a first to a second position, a cage centrallydisposed with respect to said support columns, said cage having a lowerring member and an upper ring member,

cables extending radially between and secured to said outer ring memberand to said lower ring member of said cage, trusses extending betweensaid outer ring member and said upper ring member of said cage, saidtrusses each having one end thereof pinned to said outer ring member,and the other end thereof pinned to said upper ring member of said cageat said second position of said outer ring member.

10. The roof structure of claim 9 where one end of each of said trussesis pinned to said upper r-ing member of said cage, and the other endthereof is pinned to said outer ring member at the second position ofthe latter.

11. A roof structure comprising a series of support columns disposed ina circular pattern, an outer ring member slidably mounted on saidsupport columns, a cage centrally disposed with respect to said supportcolumns, said cage having a lower ring member and an upper ring member,cables extending radially between and secured to said outer ring memberand to said lower ring member of said cage, trusses extending radiallybetween said outer ring member and said upper ring member of said cage,and means selectively securing said outer ring member to said supportcolumns.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,885,781 11/1932St. John 5282 2,005,533 6/1935 Chapman 5291 2,021,480 11/1935 Davidson5286 2,082,116 6/1937 Mopin 5282 2,832,362 4/1958 Critoph 5294 X FOREIGNPATENTS 284,735 12/1952 Switzerland.

OTHER REFERENCES Architectural Record, pages 178182, August 1959.Engineering News-Record, page 23, Aug, 18, 1955.

EARL I. WITMER, Primary Examiner.

6. A ROOF STRUCTURE COMPRISING A SERIES OF SUPPORT COLUMNS DISPOSED IN ACIRCULAR PATTERN, A RING MEMBER SLIDABLY POSITIONED ON SAID SUPPORTCOLUMNS, A CAGE CENTRALLY DISPOSED WITH RESPECT TO SAID SUPPORT COLUMNS,AND TRUSSES AND CABLES EXTENDING RADIALLY BETWEEN SAID CAGE AND SAIDCOLUMNS, SAID TRUSSES BEING POSITIONED ABOVE SAID CABLES.